Lawmakers from both parties have begun translating President Donald Trump’s broad-brush ideas for an immigration deal into legislation that can survive hard liners’ opposition and win bipartisan support.
Trump on Tuesday gave Republicans political cover to negotiate a deal with Democrats that would make DACA part of the law and give protection against deportation to some 800,000 young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children.
While Trump didn’t back off his demands on border security — including a wall on U.S.-Mexico border — restrictions on family preferences in immigration and an end to a diversity visa lottery, he made clear he would leave the details up to Congress.
Senate Republican Whip Cornyn said he expected to meet Wednesday with No. 2 Senate Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and House Democratic Whip Steny of Maryland to talk about a timetable for meetings on crafting a compromise. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen will also be part of all of the talks, he said.